Honing apparatus for bread slicing machines



Oct. 30, 1962 J. HANSEN 3,060,650

I-IONING APPARATUS FOR BREAD SLICING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. JOHN HANSEN ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1962 J. HANSENHONING APPARATUS FOR BREAD SLICING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June20, 1960 FIG. 4

F l l l l I l mm S N A H m 0 J ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1962 J. HANSEN3,060,650

HONING APPARATUS FOR BREAD SLICING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I4

use

r-w m 200- I96 H6. .5 5 a INVENTOR.

JOHN HANSEN ATTORNEY 3,066,650 HONING APPARATUS FOR BREAD SLICINGMACI-IHVES John Hansen, Bettendorf, Iowa (1533 Rockingharn, Davenport,Iowa) Fiied June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,190 4 Claims. (Cl. 51-246) Thisinvention relates to honing apparatus and has for its principal objectthe provision of a novel and improved honing structure havingapplication to bread slicing and like machines of existing types.

Those familiar with the bread slicing art readily recognize the problemsinvolved in the design and use of suitable honing apparatus,particularly since the accepted method of honing the endless bladesinvolves honing the blades while in place and While they are operatingat their normal speeds. Bread slicing machines inherently furnishfurther complications because of the close clearances involved, and thisis especially true in those machines having four or more drums aboutwhich the endless bands are trained or looped. It is further desirableto carry out the honing operation so that both sides of the blades arehoned simultaneously, but in a four-drum slicer, for example, this hasheretofore been impossible because the spacing of the drums is such thatconventional honing apparatus could not be accommodated. According tothe present invention, a novel hone structure is provided which issufficiently compact to be accommodated by the limited spaces availablein slicing-machines of the character noted. It is a further object ofthe invention, according to one form thereof, to provide the honingapparatus in sets of two different devices and, in another form of theinvention, to provide two sets of honing devices closely related andlinked together for operation in proximity to each other, despite thespace limitations discussed above. It is a further object of theinvention to provide honing apparatus that may be power or manuallyoperated. Other objects reside in a hone carrier of hollow constructionwhich accommodates the honing device in the limited space available,provision for adjustability, provision for easy removal of the honingapparatus without dismantling the slicer, and provision forautomatically stoppingthe loaf-feeding means when the honing operationis initiated.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable featuresinherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent aspreferred embodiments thereof are disclosed, by way of example, in thefollowing description and accompanying sheets of drawings, the figuresof which are described below.

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, with portions omitted andother portions in section, showing two honing apparatuses at oppositeends of a typical fourdrum slicer.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view illustrating the band arrangement in afour-drum slicer, together with the means for feeding loaves to theslicer bands.

FIGURE 3 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuit forcontrolling the motor to the loaf-feeding means.

FIGURE 4 is a view as seen along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view as seen along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a section, drawn to an enlarged scale, as seen along theline 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of one of the mounting brackets.

FIGURE 8 is a section as seen along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a section as seen along the line 2-9 of FIGURE 4.

366M550 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 ice FIGURE 10 is a section as seen alongthe line 10-10 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is a section as seen along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged section as seen along the line 12-12 of FIGURE4.

FIGURE 13 is an elevation, partly schematic, of a modified form of honeapparatus including a pair of hone means linked together and powerdriven.

FIGURE 14 is a partial plan of the same.

FIGURE 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of FIG- URE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a schematic view of the upper pair of drums in a form ofslicer different from that shown in FIGURE 2.

The general nature of the manually-operated honing apparatus will bestbe understood from initial reference to FIGURE 2, which showsschematically a bread slicer of the four-drum type, such as that formingthe subject matter of U.S. Patent 2,424,659. As illustrated, the slicercomprises a pair of upper drums 2t and 22, carried on closely relatedparallel axes, and a pair of lower drums 24 and 26, relatedsymmetrically as respects the upper drums. One of the upper drums may bedriven, as by an electric motor represented schematically and designatedby the numeral 28. A plurality of slicer bands, as at 36, are trained orlooped about the drums 20 and 26 and are guided by the deflecting drums22 and 24, and each band is crossed intermediate its ends in a slicingZone 32 to which a series of loaves of bread, as at 34, is fed viafeeding means in the form of a conveyor 36 driven by a separate electricmotor 38, for example. The crossing of the bands, as will be readilyunderstood by those versed in the art, presents a pair of parallelcutting portions in the slicing zone 32, and the loaves move throughthis zone from left to right as seen by the reader and are ultimatelycarried off a table 40 for wrapping. It will further be understood thateach band is identically arranged and that there are of course severalbands spaced crosswise of the drums.

The nature of each band and the manner in which it is trained about anddeflected by the drums 2t), 22, 24 and 26 is such that a short upperband portion 42 extends tangentially from the drum 20 to the drum 22,and a similar portion 44 is duplicated between the drums 24 and 26,Whereas longer portions 46 and 48 extend between the drums, the portion46 extending from the drum 20 to the drum 26 and the portion 48extending from the drum 24 to the drum 22, these portions crossing asaforesaid in the slicing Zone 32. Since the portions 46 and 4% cross, itwill be clear that one side of the band faces upwardly and to the leftin the zone of the drums 24 and 26 and the opposite side faces upwardlyand to the left or away from the zone of the drums 20 and 22. Thischaracteristic enables the use of upper and lower honing devicesindicated respectively in their entireties at 50 and 52. These devicesare shown in detail in FIGURES 1 and 4 through 12.

The slicer includes, of course, suitable supporting structure orframework and representative portions thereof are shown in the drawingsat 54 and 56 in the area of the upper drums 20 and 22 and at 58 and 60in the area of the drums 24 and 26 (FIGURES 1, 4 and 5).

From reference again to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the spatialrelationship of the drums 20 and 22 is such as to afford therebetween arelatively small or limited space 62 bounded by the proximate portions42 and 46 of the bands and by peripheral portions of the drums 20 and22. A similar space 64 exists between the drums 24 and 26, bounded byband portions 46 and 44. As stated above, the portion 46 of the bandpresents opposite sides respectively in the areas of the upper and lowerdrums. Consequently, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the upper honingapparatus operates on the upper or leftward side of the band portion 46and although it appears that the device 52 is operating on the sameside, it is actually operating on the opposite side because of thecrossing of the band portions in the slicing zone 32. Consequently, itis the honing device 52 that is accommodated by the relatively limitedspace 64, whereas the honing device 50 can be placed in what might beregarded as an area external to the space 62. However, in the interestsof economy, the two devices are made substantially identical, with theexception of supporting structure or mounting brackets, which is duelargely to differences in the characteristics of the frame members 54,56, 58 and 60.

Further reference will be had in detail largely to the honing device orapparatus 52, with brief reference to the apparatus 50 where differencesare significant.

The device or apparatus 52 is designed so that it has the characteristicof spanning the lower frame members 58 and 60 and for this purposemounting means is afforded in the form of a pair of dissimilar brackets66 and 68. The bracket 66 is shown by itself in FIGURE 7 and it is clearfrom that figure that the bracket has therein a pair of slots 70 adaptedto receive securing means, as cap screws 72 (FIGURE 1) for mounting sameon the frame 58, the slots 70 providing for selective inward and outwardadjustment, as will be obvious. The other bracket 68 is secured to theopposite frame 60 as by cap screws 74, and slots 76 are provided in thisbracket to enable adjustment of the bracket, the direction of the slotsbeing such that the bracket may be adjusted perpendicularly to the bandportion 46.

The bracket 68 fixedly receives one end of a transverse element or rod78, the opposite end of which is fixedly carried in an intermediarybracket 80 which in turn is carried by the bracket 66 by the medium of apair of cap screws 82, the bracket 80 being apertured at 84 (FIGURE andthe bracket 66 being slotted at 86 (FIGURE 7) to provide for adjustmentof the bracket 80 generally along the length of the band portion 46.

The rod 78 carries thereon a concentric tube 88, the tube beingelongated so as to span the entire set of bands as best shown in FIGURE5, and bushings being used, as

at 90, to mount the tube for both rocking and reciprocaof which isspaced outwardly from the mounting member to make provision forremovably receiving the proximate end of the hollow support 96, which isslotted at 100 (FIGURE 8) for that purpose. The opposite end of thesupport 96 has a different form of slot 102 therein for receipt by aheaded pin 104. The slot 100 is made long enough so that the support 96may be connected first to the pin 98 by inserting same generallytransversely to the set of bands, until the slot 102 is in register withor receivable by the pin 104, after which the support 96 may be movedback so that the slot 102 hooks onto the pin 104. A spring-loadedlocking pin 106 is provided at that end of the support 96 including theslot 102. Thus, the support 96 may be readily mounted on or dismountedfrom the rod 78 without disturbing the bands or structural parts of theslicing machine.

As best shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, the support 96 is recessed so asto afford a hollow structure having an open side facing toward theproximate area of the band portion 46 that bounds the lower space 64.The hollow nature of the support enables it to accommodate a honecarrier 108 which in turn mounts a bone element or hone means 110 ofsuch length as to span the entire set of blades. Although not importanthere, the hone means may be made up of a plurality of short cylindricalhones placed end-to-end and mounted on the carrier 108 as via aplurality of mounting clips 112 and mounting screws 114.

The carrier 108 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 116 to the center ofthe hollow support 96, the axis of the pivot being generally lengthwiseof the band. In this manner, the carrier 108 and hone means 110, rigidlyassembled via the clips 112 and cap screws 114, become a single unit orbeam fioatingly mounted in the support 96 with the hone means 110exposed at the open side of the support. The floating mounting of theunit, made available by the pivot 116 and the controlled accommodationof the unit in the hollow support, enables the hone means to adaptitself to the blades, and particularly to the seallops which areconventionally provided in blades and which of course must be honed inthe valleys thereof as well as at the peaks thereof. As will best beseen by comparison of FIGURES 9 and 10, the intermediate portion of thecarrier 96 relatively closely receives the proximate intermediateportion of the carrier 108 so that unnecessary looseness is provided;yet, outer portions of the support are cut away or hollowed outsulficiently to accommodate the mounting clips 112 and mounting screws114. Portions of the under edges of the support are cut away at 118 toaccommodate portions of the clips 112 (FIGURES 8 and 9).

It is a characteristic of the relationship of the carrier 108 and honemeans 110 as a unit that this unit is in turn mounted on the support 96via the pivot pin 116 and the assembly may be readily removed from themounting members 92 and 94 via the releasable mechanism previouslydescribed as including the pin 98 and slot at one end of the support andthe slot 102, pin 104 and locking device 106 at the opposite end. Thecompactness of the assembly is such that it is not only readilyaccommodated in the limited space 64 during operation but may be easilyinstalled and removed without disturbing the basic components of theslicing machine.

When the assembly comprising the support 96, carrier 108 and hone meansis in its operational status, it is of course mounted on the tube 88 andthat tube in turn is both rockable and slidable on the rod 78.Consequently, the hone means 110 can be moved into and out of engagementwith'the band portions 46 and when in engagement therewith can be slidback and forth along the rod 78 to perform the honing operation. Whenthe honing operation is complete, rocking of the assembly just notedwill disengage the hone means 110 from the bands and the machine maycontinue with its slicing operation.

For the purpose of receiving the necessary rocking and reciprocatingmotion, the mounting member 92 is formed as a yoke 120 having oppositearms equipped with diametrically opposed adjustable cam followers 122engageable with a cam 124 fixed to a shaft 126 journalled and slidablein extensions 128 of the bracket 80. When the cam 124 is turned by theshaft 126, as via a handle 130, the position of the hone means 110 as toengagement with or disengagement from the band portions 46 is changed.Looking now at FIGURES 1 and 12, it will be seen that counterclockwiserotation of the cam 124 will cause clockwise rotation of the yoke 120about the axis of the rod 78, thereby lifting the hone means 110 fromthe band portions 46. The shape of the cam, as will be obvious, is suchas to limit rotation to slightly more than 90, stop portions on theearn, as at 132 and 134 being operative to engage one of the followers122. When the cam has been turned so as to achieve engagement of thehone means 110 with the band portions 46, the shaft 126 may be utilizedto shift the hone support 96, and consequently the unit 108-110, backand forth therewith along the aXis of the rod 78, the tube 88 carryingthe support via the mounting members 92 and 94 and Sliding on the rod 78via the bushings 90. For the purpose of achieving the back and forthmovement, the yoke 120 is recessed at 135 (FIGURE 6) to receive adepending portion 136 of the cam 124, this means affording a connectionby which the reciprocating movement of the shaft 126 is imparted to thehoning assembly. Reciprocation is limited by a pair of stop collars 138and 140 secured to the shaft 126.

The shaft 126 also rotates a second cam 140, but this cam is journaledby a bearing 144 in one of the extensions 80 so that, although it rockswith the shaft 126, it does not slide with the shaft. The shaft 126 isslotted at 146 to receive a pin 148 in the cam 142, but this pin doesnot pass through the proximate portion of the extension 80.Consequently, the earn 142 is keyed to the shaft 126 for rockingtherewith, but the shaft 126 slides independently of the cam which, asbest shown in FIG- URE 6, is retained against axial movement by its ownshape and further by having the collar 140 secured thereto.

The purpose of the cam 142 is to control an electrical circuit to themotor 38 (previously described) for the loaf feeder 36. As shown inFIGURE 3, the motor 38 is wired into a circuit including a pair ofswitches 150 and 152, both of which are normally closed when the sliceris in operation so that the feeder 36 is effective to feed loaves 34 tothe slicing Zone 32. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the switch 150 isaccommodated by a switch box 154 and is controlled by a plunger 156which is in engagement with the cam 142. When the hone means 110 is inengagement with the band portions 46, the position of the cam 142 issuch that the plunger 156 is spring-pressed downwardly, thus opening theswitch 150 so as to break the circuit to the motor 38 and thus to stopthe loaf feeder 36. The purpose of this arrangement is to stop thefeeding means with a loaf 34 in the slicing zone 32 so that particles ofsteel and abrasive resulting from the honing operation will beaccumulated by the stationary loaf, the loaf thus serving as a wiper forthe band portions as they are honed. When the honing operation isdiscontinued, the shaft 126 is turned back to its position to disengagethe hone means 110 from the band portions and consequently the cam 142elevates the plunger 156 to again close the switch 150. The loaf thatserved as a wiper is then discarded.

As previously stated, the honing apparatus or device 50 is substantiallyidentical to that already described and identified in its entirety bythe numeral 52. Accordingly, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat thedetailed descriptions. Sufiice it to note that the device 50 includes atransverse rod 78, mounting means including brackets 66 and 68', anoperating handle 126' and hone means 110 for operating on the oppositeside of the band portion 46 in the area of the upper drums 20 and 22.Likewise, the upper hone means 50 includes a switch box 158 whichaccommodates the other switch 152 in the circuit. Therefore, thiscircuit will be broken whenever either of the hone means is inengagement with the band portions 46. Another difference in the upperhone device is that the bracket 66 is supported on the slicer frame 54by an additional support 160, this difference being due to a peculiarityin the machine. Nevertheless, the basic components of the two devices 50and 52 are identical so that they may be economically produced. On thisbasis, then, it will be understood that the design, structure andfunction of the two devices 50 and 52 are for all practical purposesidentical and what is said relative to one applies also to the other.

In that form of the invention shown in FIGURE 13, a pair of identicalhone devices 162 and 164 are linked together and are power driven. Thistype of apparatus may be used in a different form of slicing machine inwhich the upper drums, as at 166 and 168 (FIGURE 16) are arranged in amanner different from that in FIGURE 2. In this case, the bands aretrained about and deflected by the drums so that a band portion 170 thatpasses beneath the drum 168 loops about the drum 166 and returns at 172,the portions 170 and 172 crossing in a slicing zone and being trainedabout a pair of lower drums much in the manner of FIGURE 2 In this case,however, the offset between the drums 166 and 168 is such that there isa larger space 174 available between the drums. More significant,however, is the fact that the portions and 172 of the band are spacedapart sufficiently to enable use of the hone apparatus 162 in the areanoted, without causing deflection of the band portions 170 into the bandportions 172, which is not the case in a slicer of the type representedby FIGURE 2. Therefore, the two hone devices may be linked together andpower driven, in a manner to be presently described.

The machine equipped with the drums 166 and 168, and additional drumssymmetrically arranged but not shown, includes supporting structurehaving a frame 176 which mounts power drive means, such as an electricmotor 178 which includes a bracket 180 on which is journaled, on an axistransverse to the band portions 170 and 172, a cam 182 having therein ahelical track 184 which is followed by a follower 186 fixed to a sleeve188 which in turn has rigid thereon a pair of diametrically oppositelyextending arms 190. The cam 182 is fixed against axial displacementrelative to the bracket 180 and therefore rotation thereof will causemovement of the sleeve 188 inwardly and outwardly through an extentdetermined by the pitch of the helical track 184.

Each arm 190 is bifurcated at its free end to rockably and non-axiallymovably receive a collar 192 which is preferably formed integral with ashort sleeve 194 (FIG- URE 15 Each sleeve 194 is coaxially fixed to atube 196 which is the counterpart of the tube 88 described in connectionwith FIGURES 1 through 12, and each tube 196 is bushed or otherwisesupported on a transverse rod 198 which is generally the counterpart ofthe rod 78 previously described. Each tube 196 is therefore rockable onand slidable along the respective rod 198 with the sleeve 194. Each tube196 further carries at its opposite ends a pair of mounting members 200,only one of which is shown for each tube 196, it being understood, ofcourse, that the one not shown at the opposite end is identical and inthis respect the mounting member 200 is the counterpart of thatpreviously described at 94. Each pair of mounting members carries a honesupport 202 which is the counterpart of the hone support 96 describedabove, and each hone support mounts hone means 204 like that describedpreviously at 110. Consequently, all the details of structure, functionand result, as respects the mounting of the hone carrier and itscomponents as described above apply to the fundamental structure inFIGURES 13 through 15; although, as Will be brought out below, there aredifferences in operation.

Just as in the case of the previously described hone apparatus, eachhone means 204 in FIGURES 13 through 16 is movable between engaged anddisengaged positions as respects the band portions 170 and 172. :In FIG-URE 13, the hone means are shown in their band-engaging positions, fromwhich they may be rocked counterclockwise to disengaged positions. Thisis accomplished by linking the two hone means together in a manner to bepresently described.

Each shaft 198 carries at its end adjacent to the motor 178 an arm 206which has integral therewith a sleeve portion 208 keyed at 210 to theassociated sleeve and collar 194. The purpose of the keyed connection isto enable the sleeves 194 and tubes 196 to both reciprocate and rock onthe rods 198 with the arms 206 but without changing the positions of thearms axially of the rods. In other words, the assembly comprising thecam sleeve 188, yoke arms 190, sleeves 194, tubes 196 and hone devicesreciprocate relative to the arms 206. At the same time, the arms 206 arecapable of rocking in unison without affecting any change in the angularposition of the cam sleeve 188 and arms 190.

For the purpose of effecting rotation of the cam 182 so as to propel andrepel the arms 190 and their associated components, the cam is driven bya chain and sprocket drive 208 from the motor 178. The speed reductionis such that the hone means 204 are moved back and forth across theblades at a rate consistent with efiicient honing the hone means 204being first, of course, moved into engagement with the band portions 170and 172 by rocking the arms 206 simultaneously through the medium of apair of links 210 which pivotally interconnect the arms and which havecam followers 212 and 214 respectively engaging a pair of cams 216 and218 concentrically and fixedly secured to a shaft 220 appropriatelyjournaled and driven by gearing including a pair of gears 222 and 224from the shaft which carries the sprocket of the chain and sprocketdrive 208. The timing of the drive is such that five strokes ofreciprocation of the bone means are made while the hone means are inengagement with the band portions 170 and 172. In other words, afterfive strokes, the cams 216 and 218 make one revolution and consequentlyrock the tubes 196 so as to disengage the bone means from the bandportions. As shown in FIGURE 13, the hone means are in engagement withthe band portions and the positions of the cams 216 and 218 are suchthat disengagement of the hone means from the bands is imminent.

The purpose of providing the two cams is that an entire revolution isrequired.

Another feature of the arrangement is that the links 210, althoughpivotally connected at one end at 226 to one of the arms 200, include anadjustable connection at their opposite ends to the other arm 206. Theadjustment means includes a block 228 having a pin 230 which passespivotally through the associated arm 206 and which is furtheraccommodated by slots 232 in the associated portions of the links 210. Alug 234 is rigidly connected to the links and is offset relative theretoso as to be in alinement with the block 228. The block carries rigidlythereon a threaded member 236 which extends through the aperturedportion of the lug 234, and which receives externally thereof anadjusting nut 238 having a collar connection 240 with the lug, so thatturning of the nut on the screw 236 will propel and repel the block 228which in turn will cause rocking of the arm 206 via the pin 230 relativeto the other arm 206. In other words, the arm 206 may be adjustedlengthwise of the links within the limits of the slot 232 and the timingof the two hone means may thus be adjusted. After the adjustment hasbeen made, it may be secured by a locking thumb nut 242.

Here again, the construction features compactness and economy and lendsitself to power driven honing in slicers of the type represented by theschematic view in FIGURE 16.

In both forms of the invention, features other than those categoricallyenumerated will readily occur to those versed in the art, as will manymodifications and alterations in the preferred embodiments disclosed,all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Honing apparatus for a bread slicing machine having a frame, a pairof frame-carried parallel upper drums and a pair of frame-carriedparallel lower drums and a plurality of slicer bands spaced across andtrained about one lower drum and one upper drum and guided by the otherlower drum and by the other upper drum, the axes of the drums in eachpair being offset so that a first portion of each band travels from onedrum of one pair to the other drum of said one pair and a second portionof each band travels from said other drum of said one pair to one of thedrums of the other pair and affording a space between the proximateperipheral portions of the drum in which said second band portions areaccessible, said apparatus comprising: a mounting element supported onthe frame in transverse register with the space between one pair ofdrums; elongated hone means paralleling said one pair of drums in saidspace in traversing relation to said second band portions and adapted toengage and disengage said second band portions; and means mounting thehone means on said element for movement of said hone means selectivelyinto and out of engagement with said second band portions; second honemeans disposed proximate to and in traversing relation to said firstband portions for selective engagement with and disengagement from saidfirst band portions; means mounting said second hone means on the framefor movement into and out of engagement with said first band portions;and means interconnecting the hone means for movement in unison so thatthe two hone means move together to respectively engage and disengagetheir respective band portions.

2. In a bread slicing machine having a frame, slicer means carried bythe frame and having a slicing zone and a honing zone, means for drivingthe slicer means, means carried by the frame for feeding a continuousseries of loaves to the slicer means in the slicing zone to be slicedthereby and means for driving the feeding means, the improvementcomprising: hone means carried by the frame in a normal positiondisengaged from the slicer means in the honing zone; control means forchanging the position of the hone means to one of engagement thereofwith the slicer means in the honing zone while the slicer meanscontinues in operation; and means connected between the control meansand the means for driving the feeding means for stopping the latterwhile a loaf is presented to and being sliced by the slicer means in theslicing zone in response to said change in position of the hone means.

3. Honing apparatus for a bread slicing machine having transverselyspaced apart elongated frame members and a plurality of drum-carriedslicer bands running lengthwise of and between said members, saidapparatus comprising: a transverse elongated hollow hone supportextending crosswise of and adjacent to the bands and having an open siderelatively close to and facing said bands; means mounting said supporton at least one of the frame members for movement toward and away fromand for reciprocation crosswise of the bands; and hone means carried bythe support and including a carrier received at least in part withinsaid support and a hone element carried by the carrier and exposed atsaid open side for engagement with and disengagement from the bands assaid support is moved toward and away from the bands, said carriercomprising a beam within and generally parallel to the support andmounting said carrier, said beam being pivotally connected to thesupport intermediate the ends of the support on an axis lengthwise ofthe frame members for limited rocking of the carrier and hone meanswithout said axis relative to the support.

4. Honing apparatus for a bread slicing machine having a frame, a pairof frame-carried parallel upper drums and a pair of frame-carriedparallel lower drums and a plurality of slicer bands spaced across andtrained about one lower drum and one upper drum and guided by the otherlower drum and by the other upper drum, the axes of the drums in eachpair being closely offset so that a first portion of each band travelsfrom one drum of one pair to the other drum of said one pair and asecond portion of each band travels from said other drum of said onepair to one of the drums of the other pair and affording a limited spacebetween the proximate peripheral portions of the drums in which saidsecond hand portions are accessible, said apparatus comprising: amounting element having an end portion axially beyond the ends of onepair of drums and supported on the frame via said end portion andextending parallel to one pair of drums in the space therebetween;elongated substantially continuous hone means paralleling said elementin said space and generally coextensive in length with the transversearea occupied by the bands so as to lie in traversing relation to saidsecond band portions and adapted to en gage and disengage said secondband portions; means on the hone means providing an end portionproximate to said element end portion; means mounting the hone means onsaid element for movement of said hone means selectively into and out ofengagement with said second hand portions; means operatively connectedto the hone means end portion for moving the hone means as aforesaid;second hone means disposed proximate to and in traversing relation tosaid first band portions for selective engagement with and disengagementfrom said first band portions; means mounting said second hone means onthe frame for movement into and out of engagement with 10 said firstband portions; and means connected to and for moving the two hone meansin unison so that said two hone means move together to respectivelyengage and disengage their respective band portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,185,835 Criner Jan. 2, 1940 2,537,512 Crissey Jan. 9, 1951 2,978,849Visnaw Apr. 11, 1961 2,999,823 Irvin Aug. 29, 1961

